Film director Feng Xiaogang may have made China’s biggest box office hit, the disaster movie, “Aftershock”, but he built his reputation in comedies, comparing himself to American director, Woody Allen.

Fox International Productions and China Lion Film Distribution said Wednesday they will release the Mandarin-language martial arts film The Butcher, The Chef and The Swordsman on March 17 in North America, Australia and New Zealand, simultaneously with its premiere in China.

Fan Bingbing’s first foreign film has been released in France this week. The all-English language film, Stretch, is directed by Charles de Meaux and required Fan to cram to learn English. This is the same production that David Carradine was shooting in Thailand when he died. (Xinhua)

Li Yuchun, Andrew Lau

(Jan.12) Andrew Lau directed and co-starred with Li Yuchun in a 15-minute musical film called ‘Prologue’. The premiere event was held in Beijing with screenings planned for Chengdu, Changsha, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Lau praised Li as a ‘female version of Jay Chou’. (Sina)

September 24, 2010

The music video is directed by Ann Hui, a well-known Hong Kong director who collaborated with Andy 30 years ago in the film “Boat People.” Lau spent 2 days shooting the video, in which he plays an orphan, in a suburban area of Beijing.

This year’s HKAFF runs from October 22 to November 8. Actress Karena Lam’s film “Lover’s Discourse” and Hong Kong actor Juno Mak’s “Fuchouzhe Zhi Si” (translated as “The Death of Avenger”) will be the opening films.

The focus on Hong Kong local productions reflects the recent growth in quantity and quality of Hong Kong cinema, of which the critical and boxoffice reception in the first half of 2010 proved a shot in the arm for the industry, Broadway Cinematheque director Gary Mak told The Hollywood Reporter.

You have to be a much more patient director to work in Hollywood. When I was shooting “The Flock,” there were unions, so many meetings to attend, and I had to repeat myself a million times and be specific about everything. I wasted so much time talking bullshit there.

A first rough cut of 14 Blades, prior to post production special effects and music, was screened in Hong Kong to industry insiders and it has garnered applause and predictions of a big box office. With a goal of HK$200M it is expected to earn HK$300M. The film reportedly has a mix of romance for the women and action for the men. Zhao Wei’s performance is said to be ‘beyond all previous works’. In the past, Zhao Wei was considered box office poison, now with Red Cliff, Painted Skin and 14 Blades, she will become China’s first actress to make 3 films with over $200M earnings and make her the Queen of Costumes. (Sina)(2)

Shing Fui-On suffers recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
The 54 year-old actor was treated in 2004 with chemo and radiation therapy and he lost 45kg in weight. He also lost his sense of taste and hearing. Nonetheless, Shing was elected village head in Sai Kung and later ran for election to the legislature but was defeated.
Nick Cheung, also a Sai Kung resident, went directly from shooting To Live and Die in Mongkok to visit Shing at the Hong Kong Baptist Hospital. He is due to be released in a couple days.